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San Francisco 49ers: 5 Steps to Fix the Franchise in 2017

By Peter Panacy

January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York addresses the media in a press conference after naming Chip Kelly (not pictured) as the new head coach for the 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers chief executive officer Jed York addresses the media in a press conference after naming Chip Kelly (not pictured) as the new head coach for the 49ers at Levi's Stadium Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of football fans in the stands during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Anderson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; A general view of football fans in the stands during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at Auditorium Theatre. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Anderson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1: A Home-Run NFL Draft

It’s as obvious as it is cliche. But San Francisco absolutely needs to “hit it out of the park” in the 2017 NFL Draft.

As things stand now, the Niners are in position to land the No. 2 overall pick. They can stay put and land a top-two talent or even trade down and acquire more much-needed picks in return. Either way, this year’s draft class needs to be top notch.

The condition the 49ers are in right now does actually present an advantage. A talent-lacking roster means San Francisco doesn’t need to reach for any one particular player or position. The Niners need help almost everywhere.

So that doesn’t mean the 49ers have to feel compelled to grab a quarterback with their first pick if the value isn’t there. Trading down might be a wise move to address this and other concerns. But it’s only an option if the value isn’t quite right.

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The most important part to remember here for San Francisco is not to reach. They don’t need to trade up, and they certainly don’t need to take any new All-ACL team risks either.

Instead, the Niners can simply let the draft come to them. In this case, the best-player-available argument applies.

Next: Thoughts on the NFL Draft & the 49ers Blowing Up the Franchise

Even with all these steps taking place, San Francisco’s rebuild is going to take a while. It’s not going to happen in one season. Don’t expect it to. But with a handful of right moves, the process can begin and be set on a clear path towards the future.